THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD - Sunday, January 3, 2021 - St. Paul ...
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THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD
Sunday, January 3, 2021
AS WE GATHER
We consider the mysteries highlighted by the Epiphany. The Wise Men, or Magi,
mysteriously show up in Jerusalem, and these strangers are looking for the King of the
Jews. The King of the Jews is mysteriously an infant, born to a humble family in
Bethlehem, not in Jerusalem. And this King of the Jews mysteriously invites all people
from all nations into His kingdom. These mysteries, hidden for the ages, is revealed in
Jesus, the Light of the world. We reflect today on what it means to belong. We may
often feel out of place at school, at work, or perhaps even in our congregation. Perhaps
the Wise Men felt like they were out of place in Jerusalem. Yet, regardless of feelings,
God invites all people from all nations to be heirs of His kingdom. In Christ, we all
belong, and we always will.
OPENING BELLS
WELCOME
OPENING HYMN “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise”
1. Songs of thankfulness and praise, 2. Manifest at Jordan’s stream,
Jesus, Lord, to Thee we raise, Prophet, Priest, and King supreme;
Manifested by the star And at Cana wedding guest
To the sages from afar, In Thy Godhead manifest;
Branch of royal David’s stem Manifest in pow’r divine,
In Thy birth at Bethlehem: Changing water into wine;
Anthems be to Thee addressed, Anthems be to Thee addressed,
God in man made manifest. God in man made manifest.
3. Manifest in making whole 4. Sun and moon shall darkened be,
Palsied limbs and fainting soul; Stars shall fall, the heav’ns shall flee;
Manifest in valiant fight, Christ will then like lightning shine,
Quelling all the devil’s might; All will see His glorious sign;
Manifest in gracious will, All will then the trumpet hear,
Ever bringing good from ill; All will see the Judge appear;
Anthems be to Thee addressed, Thou by all wilt be confessed,
God in man made manifest. God in man made manifest.
5 Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord,
Present in Thy holy Word—
Grace to imitate Thee now
And be pure, as pure art Thou;
That we might become like Thee
At Thy great epiphany
And may praise Thee, ever blest,
God in man made manifest.
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1INVOCATION
Pastor: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
OPENING PRAYER
All: O God, by the leading of a star You made known to the Gentiles Your
only-begotten Son. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy in
heaven the fullness of Your divine presence. Lord Jesus, in Your
incarnation, You dwelt among us in light and love. Help us to be light
to those who do not know You and to share Your love with those
who are in darkness, for You live and reign with the Father and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Through the Gospel, all people are fellow heirs of salvation and members
of the same Body. Yet there have been times when we have failed to live
in unity, when we have failed to treat our brothers and sisters in Christ with
respect and honor. Our heavenly Father invites us to return to Him and
ask for His forgiveness.
Silence for reflection.
Pastor: Heavenly Father,
People: we confess that we have not loved You with our whole heart. We
have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have created division
and discord. We have hidden the light of Christ from others. For the
sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew
us, and lead us with the light of Christ, that we may delight in Your
will and walk in Your ways. Amen.
Pastor: Almighty God in His mercy sent His Son, Jesus, into our world to shine as
a light for all people, including You. Jesus has died for your sins and is
risen for your righteousness. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant
of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the
Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen. We are partakers of the promise. We are forgiven in Christ.
2SONG OF RESPONSE “He Shall Reign Forevermore”
In the bleak mid-winter
All creation groans
For a world in darkness
Frozen like a stone
Light is breaking
In a stable for a throne
Chorus (And) He shall reign forevermore forevermore
And He shall reign forevermore forevermore
Unto us a Child is born
The King of kings and Lord of lords
And He shall reign forevermore forevermore
If I were a wise man
I would travel far
If I were a shepherd
I would do my part
But poor as I am
I will give to Him my heart Chorus
Bridge Here within a manger lies the One
Who made the starry skies
This baby born for sacrifice
Christ the Messiah
Into our hopes into our fears
The Savior of the world appears
The promise of eternal years
Christ the Messiah
Chorus 1x
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the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved.
CHILDREN’S LESSON
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 60:1–6
The nations shall come to Your light.
EPISTLE Ephesians 3:1–12
The mystery hidden for ages
HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 2:1–12
The Magi visit Jesus
3HYMN OF THE DAY “As with Gladness Men of Old”
1. As with gladness men of old 2. As with joyful steps they sped,
Did the guiding star behold; Savior, to Thy lowly bed,
As with joy they hailed its light, There to bend the knee before
Leading onward, beaming bright; Thee, whom heav’n and earth adore;
So, most gracious Lord, may we So may we with willing feet
Evermore be led by Thee. Ever seek Thy mercy seat.
3. As they offered gifts most rare 4. Holy Jesus, ev’ry day
At Thy cradle, rude and bare, Keep us in the narrow way;
So may we with holy joy, And when earthly things are past,
Pure and free from sin’s alloy, Bring our ransomed souls at last
All our costliest treasures bring, Where they need no star to guide,
Christ, to Thee, our heav’nly King. Where no clouds Thy glory hide.
5 In the heav’nly country bright
Need they no created light;
Thou its light, its joy, its crown,
Thou its sun which goes not down;
There forever may we sing
Alleluias to our King.
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SERMON
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of His Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried.
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures
and ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,
whose kingdom will have no end.
4And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,
who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
and I look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life + of the world to come. Amen.
OFFERING
Mail or drop your offering off at church
Online giving is available at stpaulsonline.org
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Pastor: Light of the world,
People: dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
THE BLESSING
CLOSING HYMN “Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning”
Brightest and best of the stars of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
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Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series B, Quarter 1. Copyright © 2020 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
CCLI#86047
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